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Loreto Xuereb,
known as Louie ta' Brunzinu, was
born in Ghajnsielem on the 15th of January 1922, son of
Mariano Xuereb and Bernardette nee' Zerafa, both
beneficiaries of the Ghajnsielem Parish. He is married
to
Antonia nee' Grech and together they had twelve children,
Elvira, Joseph, George, Giacinta, Michelina, Frankie,
Charlie, Bernardette, Maria, Victor, Alfred and Mario. Most of his children are
still actively involved in many areas of our village
including the St Joseph Band, Ghajnsielem FC, the Local
Council and several committees.
At a young age,
Loreto joined several
the Ghajnsielem Sea Scouts together
other Ghajnslemizi
such as Dun Karm Cassar. This group was formed by
Fr. Bernard Hersey who, after being transferred to a
convent in Ghajnsielem, was disappointed by the lack of
clubs or places where young people could meet and use the
time profitably. So Fr. Hersey opened a Club for them at No.
10 Fawwara Street where a few years later, Ghajnsielem F.C.
was born.
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In
fact, Loreto Xuereb was present at the inauguration of
the Silver Jublee stadium in Victoria where the Blacks won
the first trophy awarded in Gozo, the Zammit Cup
sometime in May of 1936. It is
interesting to note that Loreto's father, Mariano together
with Joseph Cauchi crossed over to Malta to buy the first
set of jerseys to be used by Ghajnsielem F.C. in the
inaugural match.
Loreto Xuereb joined the Blacks' a few months afterwards
and remained active until the outbreak of War in 1939 which
brought to a close the first era of football in Gozo. During the
same period, Loreto also joined the St Joseph Band under the
care of the Fr. Joseph Galea Rapa. Up to
that time, only members of the St Joseph Institute
could play but
Fr. Galea Rapa rejuvenated it with new blood by opening its
doors to youths from the village and with one stroke enlarged it
and put it forever in the mind and affection of the villagers of
Ghajnsielem. In fact, his first achievement was to secure
permission from the Bishop Michael Gonzi to enroll as musicians
young men from the Catholic Action of Ghajnsielem... and Loreto
was one of the first to join. Unfortunately with the falling of
the first bombs and the macabre wail of the sirens, the Band
stopped playing.
During the World War II,
Loreto worked at the Gozo Hospital as an Ambulance driver where
he gave his assistance after several air-raid including the
attack in Hamri Street which left a family dead. On the 30th
October 1948, he was also one of the first to offer assistance
during one of the
biggest sea tragedies in recent history when
23 people lost their lives when their luzzu rolled over by
strong waves near the bay of Hondoq ir-Rummien. Only four
passengers survived.
The arrival of Father Espedito
Tabone in 1955, galvanized the latent energy of the Ghajnslemizi
who donated their resources, financial and physical and moral so
that they could see the completion of their life-long dream...
the new parish church completed. Together with his father
Mariano, Loreto Xuereb voluntary assisted
with the construction, transportation of the building material
and the installation of electricity at the new parish church.
The project was completed in 1979 with the blessing of the bell
tower.
Loreto Xuereb was the
village's pioneer of modern feast lighting and street
decorations. Immediately after the blessing of the tower, Loreto
surrounded the copula and the facade of the church with lights
for the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto. He also worked on several "pavaljuni",
as they are known in Maltese, in a number of Streets including
Ghajnsielem Street, Fawwara Street, Mgarr Road and the
Apparition Square. Altough today, forty years later, these "pavaljuni"
are being replaced by new ones by the Ghaqda Armar, it is worth
noting that up till a few years ago he was also responsible for
their maintenance, storage and installation. Being an avid feast
lover and after being activity involved for a number of years,
till this day, he never misses any activity
during the Titular Feast.
Loreto together with several
other Ghajnslemizi made pressure with the Curia to have the
first local Archpriest and in fact Rev. Guseppi Zerafa took over
as a pastor in 1981. He also lobbied for the St Joseph Band and
Ghajnsielem F.C. to have their own land where they later built
their large premises.
Altough today, Loreo Xuereb is
no longer active, he still follows what is happening in
Ghajnsielem particularly for the Blacks', the St Joseph Band and
recently 'Bethlehem f' Ghajnsielem'.
On the 11th December 2009,
Loreo Xuereb, 87, was awarded the 15th edition of the 'Premju
Gieh Ghajnsielem' by Mayor Francis Cauchi for his life-long
contribution and involvement in the Ghajnsielem community.
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